Austin American-Statesman

James earned a bachelor's degree in government from the University of Texas and a master's degree in education policy from Harvard University.

James previously worked at an education nonprofit and as an English teacher.

James Talarico is a state representative in State House District 50. He was elected in 2018 and is serving his 3rd term.

Said, "I’ll make sure the state government pays its fair share of school funding, meaning lower property taxes for all of us."

Wants to lower property taxes by fixing the school finance system so school funding isn't as reliant on local tax revenue.

Supports paid family leave and filed bills to establish statewide paid family leave in Texas.

Sponsored legislation that would pause fees for toll roads and car registrations and create a new sales tax-free weekend.

Supports repealing Texas’ "anti-worker 'right-to-work-for-less' laws" to allow for worker organizing.

Wants to repeal "right to work" laws, which prevent employees who aren't union members from being required to pay union dues.

- Wants to lower property taxes by fixing the school finance system so school funding isn't as reliant on local tax revenue.
- Supports raising the minimum wage.
- Wants to establish paid family leave.
- Sponsored legislation that would pause fees for toll roads and car registrations and create a new sales tax-free weekend.
- Wants to repeal "right to work" laws, which prevent employees who aren't union members from being required to pay union dues.

Economy

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As a state representative, passed legislation to enhance kennel safety standards in Texas.

Supported legislation to enhance dog kennel safety standards.

Supports closing Texas’ child prisons and replacing them with a system focused on rehabilitation.

Wants to close child prisons and replace them with a rehabilitation-focused system.

Authored legislation that banned police from partnering with reality TV shows that used police encounters as programming.

Wants to lower incarceration and focus on rehabilitation and restorative justice instead.

Wants to reform the bail system and divest from private prisons.

Believes community investment, not policing, is needed to address poverty, homelessness, and mental illness.

- Supported legislation to enhance dog kennel safety standards.
- Wants to close child prisons and replace them with a rehabilitation-focused system.
- Authored legislation that banned police from partnering with reality TV shows that used police encounters as programming.
- Wants to lower incarceration and focus on rehabilitation and restorative justice instead.
- Wants to reform the bail system and divest from private prisons.
- Believes community investment, not policing, is needed to address poverty, homelessness, and mental illness.
- Supports legalizing marijuana.

Public Safety

As a type 1 diabetic, supports lowering prescription drug costs.

Supported legislation to lower the cost of insulin for people on state/federal insurance plans and authored legislation to allow Texas to import prescription drugs from Canada to lower costs.

Wants to allow people to buy into Medicaid to create a public health insurance option.

- Supported legislation to lower the cost of insulin for people on state/federal insurance plans and authored legislation to allow Texas to import prescription drugs from Canada to lower costs.
- Wants to allow people to buy into Medicaid to create a public health insurance option.
- Supports access to abortion.

Healthcare

Opposes school voucher programs that allow parents to use public funds to enroll their children in schools beyond their local options, including private schools.

Supports expanding early childhood programs, capping Pre-K class sizes, and providing tax relief to child care centers to reduce costs for families.

Supported legislation to set a cap on Pre-K class sizes and expand the early education improvement program.

Supports funding student mental health and character education programs.

Supports legislation to increase mental health services and programs focused on social education and good habits in schools.

Supports equipping Texas public schools with Narcan to combat teen overdoses.

Supported legislation to put Narcan in public schools to help prevent drug overdoses.

Sponsored legislation that would give teachers a $15,000 raise and give school support staff a 25% raise.

- Opposes school voucher programs that allow parents to use public funds to enroll their children in schools beyond their local options, including private schools.
- Supported legislation to set a cap on Pre-K class sizes and expand the early education improvement program.
- Supports legislation to increase mental health services and programs focused on social education and good habits in schools.
- Supported legislation to put Narcan in public schools to help prevent drug overdoses.
- Sponsored legislation that would give teachers a $15,000 raise and give school support staff a 25% raise.

Education

Wants to establish greenhouse gas emission reduction targets, energy efficiency standards, and a resiliency plan to deal with climate change.

Believes that the energy grid has faced issues due to deregulation and privatization.

Suggested that energy grid issues are due to government corruption and lobbying from the oil and gas industry.

- Wants to establish greenhouse gas emission reduction targets, energy efficiency standards, and a resiliency plan to deal with climate change.
- Supports transitioning to clean energy.
- Believes that the energy grid has faced issues due to deregulation and privatization.
- Suggested that energy grid issues are due to government corruption and lobbying from the oil and gas industry.

Energy & the Environment

Opposes partisan gerrymandering, drawing district lines to favor a political party, and wants redistricting to be conducted by an independent commission.

Wants to implement online voter registration, expand early voting, and increase the number of polling locations.

- Opposes partisan gerrymandering, drawing district lines to favor a political party, and wants redistricting to be conducted by an independent commission.
- Wants to implement online voter registration, expand early voting, and increase the number of polling locations.

Voting & Elections

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James Talarico

James holds a bachelor's degree in government from the University of Texas and a master's degree in education policy from Harvard University.

James Talarico currently serves as the state representative for District 50. He was elected in 2018 and is serving his 3rd term.

As a state representative, partnered with Javier Ambler’s family and criminal justice advocates to pass the Javier Ambler Act, which bans police departments from contracting with reality TV programs.

Believes in addressing the "fentanyl crisis" to enhance public safety.

Believes some politicians are "exploiting the fentanyl crisis to fearmonger" and supports taking action to address the issue.

Believes public safety includes animal welfare, highlighting a tragic incident where an overnight fire killed 75 dogs at a kennel, with many pet owners unaware their pets would be left unattended overnight.

Wants to reform the bail system and using state funding for private prisons.

- Supported legislation to enhance dog kennel safety standards.
- Wants to close child prisons and replace them with a rehabilitation-focused system.
- Authored legislation that banned police from partnering with reality TV shows that used police encounters as programming.
- Wants to lower incarceration and focus on rehabilitation and restorative justice instead.
- Wants to reform the bail system and using state funding for private prisons.
- Believes community investment, not policing, is needed to address poverty, homelessness, and mental illness.
- Supports legalizing marijuana.

Supports quality and affordable child care.

As a member of the House Public Education Committee, helped pass a school finance bill that allocates billions of dollars for schools and provides property tax relief.

As a legislator, helped schools fight teen fentanyl overdoses and capped Pre-K class sizes.

Supports providing educational opportunities for incarcerated minors.

As of September 12, 2024, James Talarico’s website did not contain information on this issue.

James Talarico is a State Representative in Texas and a former middle school teacher.

James Talarico is a member of the Texas House of Representatives and serves on the House Public Education Committee.

- Your state representative represents the interests of your local district in the Texas House of Representatives. The State House of Representatives, along with the State Senate, makes up your state lawmaking body: the Texas State Legislature
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